Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Steps&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Steps,’ has a good uniform canopy of large dark pink flowers with a yellow/green disc. The new variety has a medium vigor and a free branching and uniform spreading habit with good foliage presentation.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/396,826, filed Jul. 17, 2002.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

[0002] Botanical classification: Dendranthema grandiflora.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

[0003] The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is ‘Steps.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name ‘Steps’. ‘Steps’, identified as 21174-0 originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom. The female parent of the new variety is an undistributed, unpatented seedling identified as P371D4. The male parent of the new variety is an undistributed, unpatented seedling identified as P381D4. The new variety ‘Steps’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetatative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] ‘Steps’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant variety having dark pink single spoon.

Comparison with Parent

[0006] Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ are dissimilar to the parent cultivar ‘P371D4’ in plant habitat and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ compared to plants of the parent cultivar ‘P371D4’ in the following characteristics.

[0007] 1. The new variety ‘Steps’ produces dark pink single spoon flowers whereas the parent cultivar ‘P371D4’ produces bronze single flowers.

[0008] 2. Plants of the new variety ‘Steps’ have similar size and similar height inflorescence to plants of the parent cultivar ‘Steps’.

Comparison with Other Varieties

[0009] Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ are similar to the cultivar ‘Scott’ in plant habitat and growth rate. However, in side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ compared to plants of the cultivar ‘Scott’ in the following characteristics.

[0010] 1. The new variety ‘Steps’ produces dark pink single spoon flowers whereas the cultivar ‘Scott’ produces purple single spoon flowers.

[0011] 2. Plants of the new variety ‘Steps’ have larger and taller inflorescence than plants of the cultivar ‘Scott’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

[0012] Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ are shown in the accompanying digital photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

[0013]FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘Steps’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 55 days after the commencement of Short Days.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0014] The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Steps’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom in the month of February. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance in genotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a pot Chrysanthemum.

[0015] Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 24° C. to 25° C. during the day under light conditions of about 5000 to 6000 foot candles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant, such as B9 treatment. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. The typical container size for commercial growth is 14 cm. It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety is about 24 days with a response time of about 8 weeks. The new variety is suitable for growth in a temperature range of 17° C. to 28° C.

[0016] The following description is with respect to a plant produced as pot Chrysanthemum. In the description of this new Chrysanthemum variety, color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

PLANT

[0017] Plant type: Pot.

[0018] Habit: Upright and free branching.

[0019] Height: 24 cm.

[0020] Width: 34 cm.

[0021] Branching characteristics: Upright and free branching.

[0022] Length of lateral branches: 6-11 cm.

[0023] Number of breaks from pinch: 3-5.

[0024] Stem color: 137C.

[0025] Response time: 55.

[0026] Vigor: Medium.

[0027] Shelf life: 24 days.

[0028] Disease/Pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to date.

[0029] Growth retardant type and treatment: 3 applications of 2.5 gm/litre B9 @2, 21 and 28 days after sticking of unrooted cuttings. The plants were grown for 3 weeks in Long Day conditions (20 hours of light) and then transferred to Short Day conditions (13 hours of dark).

[0030] Propagation:

[0031]Type.—Vegetative Propagation Via Stem Cuttings.

[0032]Time to rooting.—12-14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.

[0033]Rooting habit.—Fine and Fibrous.

[0034] Other treatments or conditions: None.

FOLIAGE

[0035] Number of leaves per lateral branch: 8-10.

[0036] Compound or single: Single.

[0037] Arrangement of leaves: Alternate.

[0038]Shape of leaf.—typically 5 lobed ovate.

[0039]Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 3-7 cm Length (cm): 4-10 cm.

[0040]Leaf apex.—Rounded.

[0041]Base.—Acute.

[0042]Attachment.—Petioled.

[0043]Aspect.—Slightly undulating.

[0044]Margin.—Palmetely lobed.

[0045]Surface characteristics.—Top: Slightly pubescent Bottom: Pubescent.

[0046] Petiole: Color: 137C Length: 1.5 cm.

[0047] Venation: Net prominent midvein at underside Color: upper side: Near 138B underside: Near 138C.

[0048] Color: Mature Leaf, upper side: Near 137A; under side: Near 138A Young Leaf, upper side: Near 137B; under side: Near 137C.

FLOWER

[0049] Flower appearance: Matte.

[0050] Flower type: Single.

[0051] Flower form: Cupped.

[0052] Flower shape: Circular.

[0053] Flower habit: Cyme.

[0054] Number of blossoms per branch: 3-5.

[0055] Inflorescence form: Pyramid.

[0056]Depth of fully expanded blossoms.—1.5 cm.

[0057]Diameter of fully expanded blossoms.—8.5 cm.

[0058] Sepals:

[0059]Number.—25-30.

[0060]Outer color.—Near 137C.

[0061]Length.—0.5-0.8 cm.

[0062]Width.—0.1-0.3 cm.

[0063]Texture/Appearance.—Pubescent.

[0064] Peduncle: Peduncle length is shortest at the terminal flower and progressively longer moving down the stem.

[0065]Length.—3-10 cm, average 5 cm.

[0066]Color.—Near 137.

[0067]Surface.—Pubescent.

[0068]Habit.—Slightly Curving.

[0069]Strength.—Medium.

[0070] Pedicel:

[0071]Length.—terminal: 2.5-6 cm; lateral: 2.5-8 cm.

[0072]Color.—Near 138B.

[0073]Surface.—Pubescent.

[0074]Habit.—Slightly Curving.

[0075]Strength.—Medium.

[0076] Ray florets:

[0077]Form/Shape.—Spatulate.

[0078]Texture/Appearance.—Matte.

[0079]Number per flower.—30-35.

[0080]Length.—2.5 to 5 cm; Width: 0.3-1 cm.

[0081]Apex.—Rounded.

[0082]Base.—Tubular.

[0083]Margin.—Entire.

[0084] Disc florets:

[0085]Form/Shape.—Cylindrical.

[0086]Texture/Appearance.—Shiny.

[0087]Number per flower.—200-300.

[0088]Length.—0.6 cm; Width 0.1 cm.

[0089]Diameter of disc.—2 cm.

[0090] Fragrance: None.

[0091] Flower bud (at onset of color):

[0092]Length.—1 cm.

[0093]Diameter.—1.2 cm.

[0094]Form/shape.—Globular.

[0095] General flower color:

[0096] 1. Ray florets, upper side.—Immature: Near 67A Mature: Near 67B Older/Fading: Near 67C.

[0097] 2. Ray florets, under side.—Immature: Near 67B Mature: Near 67D Older/Fading: Near 73B.

[0098] 3. Disc florets.—Immature: Near 143A Mature: Near 144B Older/Fading: Near 151A.

[0099] 4. Bud.—138B. Flower progression with age: No change in flower form, slight colour fading as flowers mature.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

[0100] Ray florets: Pistillate.

[0101]Pistil number.—>30.

[0102]Stigma color.—Near 5B.

[0103]Stigma shape.—Forked.

[0104]Style color.—Near 5B.

[0105]Style length.—0.5 cm.

[0106] Disc florets: Pistillate.

[0107]Pistil number.—>30.

[0108]Stigma color.—Near 7A.

[0109]Stigma shape.—Forked.

[0110]Style color.—Near 7A.

[0111]Style length.—0.4 cm.

[0112]Staminate.—None observed to date.

[0113] Fruit and seeds: None observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 